Six inspiring innovators have been announced as finalists in the final two categories of the 2025 Western Australian Innovators of the Year Awards (WAIOTY).
The inaugural WA Young Innovators of the Year category, sponsored by the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of WA (YEA WA), attracted 34 applications from high school aged students across the State.
The three finalists included students from Perth Modern School, IDEAcademy and Willetton Senior High School, each demonstrating the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of Western Australia’s next generation of innovators.
The Government Innovators of the Year category, introduced in 2024 and sponsored by the Australian Innovation Management Institute (AIMI), also drew strong interest this year with entries from both local and State Government organisations.
Three finalists have been chosen, showcasing innovation in public sector services and delivery.
“These categories recognise the creativity and drive of young people and government employees, shining a light on innovators who don’t often get the chance to showcase their ideas publicly,” said Science and Innovation Minister, Stephen Dawson.
“It is inspiring to see high school students and public sector teams tackling real-world challenges and developing solutions that will benefit Western Australians now and into the future.
“The WA Innovators of the Year Awards continue to grow, and these finalists demonstrate the talent and innovation that make our State a leader on the national and global stage.”
All finalists are developing solutions to real-world challenges from a unique perspective, complementing the 24 other finalists across the five remaining categories of the program.
Finalists will also benefit from tailored support:
- YEA WA Young Innovators Award finalists will participate in four bespoke entrepreneurship masterclasses and receive up to 10 hours of mentoring and development support; and
- Government Innovators Award finalists will gain access to AIMI’s Certified Innovation Catalyst Program, with places available for up to five team members from each finalist team.
Winners of both categories, along with all other 2025 award winners, will be announced at the WAIOTY Awards Ceremony on Monday, 3 November 2025 at Crown Perth.
There have been several contributors to this year’s awards, including WAIOTY major sponsor Rio Tinto and supporting sponsors Wesfarmers, Woodside Energy, Business News, Biodesign Australia, CERI, Wrays, BetterLabs, Nexia Australia, CSIRO, Moore Australia, AIMI, and the YEA WA.
The YEA WA Young Innovators Award finalists are:
| Application | Highschool/Education stream | Project Title |
| Elevare Education | Perth Modern School | Elevare is a holistic empowerment centre bridging both academic and emotional gaps for migrant students |
| Medi Manage (Automated Pill Dispenser) | Willetton Senior High School | Medi Manage is an automated pill dispenser designed for users with multiple medications that are taken at different times throughout the day |
| Project Lighthouse | IDEAcademy | Project Lighthouse uses a single high-efficiency LED light source that distributes light throughout an entire building via fibre optic tubes |
Government Innovators of the Year:
| Application | Department | Project Title |
| The Chemistry Centre of WA (ChemCentre) | ChemCentre, Forensic Science Laboratory / PathWest, Forensic Biology | Creating a new forensic capability in WA by using the hair shaft proteome for protein-based human identification |
| Town of Victoria Park’s Cockitrough: Rewilding WA, One Trough at a Time | Town of Victoria Park | Cockitrough®: WA’s Habitat Enhancement for Urban Environment & Endangered Black Cockatoos – The Cockitrough® |
| Western Australian Treasury Corporation | Western Australian Treasury Corporation | Sustainability Bond Framework 2023 |
For more information, visit:Â https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-energy-and-economic-diversification/wa-innovators-of-the-year-2025-finalists.
